The three-week competition in May and June offered workplaces and teams across the city the chance to compete against each other for prizes. It aimed to introduce as many people to cycling as possible and to encourage them to ride to work or for leisure.

Jane Kynnersley from Kelloggs, one of the winning companies, said: “It's been a great Cycle Challenge and the website has been so informative and interactive. I know that people have been inspired to ride again, it's been great fun and I topped it off with the Great Manchester Cycle on Bank Holiday Monday which was superb. Thanks to Ross and Seamus for the encouragement and initiative.”

Challenge Coordinator Ross Adams said: “The results from Manchester show the challenge created by CTC and Challenge for Change really works. It encouraged thousands of people to take to their bikes to discover the joys and benefits of cycling. Everyone is a winner: employers get a healthier workforce and a decrease in demand for parking spaces; employees save money and get fit; and everyone else experiences less congestion and pollution.”

2199 people from 137 organisations recorded trips, competing to clock up the greatest percentage of staff taking part. In total, 16,418 journeys were recorded totalling 170,446 miles cycled. 358 people took to a bike for the first time in over a year.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Cycling is fun, free and a fast, easy way of getting around Greater Manchester – whether it’s cycling to work, starting or finishing your public transport commute by bike, or purely for recreation.

“The TfGM Cycle Challenge has been a great success and has led to lots of people trying cycling again for the first time in years and discovering that it is a useful and enjoyable form of transport.

“We’re keen to encourage more people in Greater Manchester to get out and about by bike, and that’s why we’ve been delighted to support this initiative along with CTC. We hope the TfGM Cycle Challenge has inspired many to give cycling a go.”

Participants logged their cycling online and a variety of prizes were on offer for individuals and teams from a hot air balloon ride to a tour of the Manchester Velodrome, bike shop vouchers and a meal for two at Harvey Nichols.

Members of the winning teams won a Tour of the Manchester Velodrome, an ice-cream delivery at their workplace, wine tasting evening and a meal out at a top restaurant.

TfGM’s funding for the TfGM Cycle Challenge came from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, following TfGM’s successful bid in 2011 for £4.9 million for its Greater Manchester Commuter Cycling Project. The Greater Manchester Commuter Cycling Project, aimed at increasing the number of people cycling to work through cycle storage schemes, cycle training and other cycling promotion projects such as the TfGM Cycle Challenge.

To find out more about cycling in Greater Manchester or to book cycle training, please visit TfGM’s online cycling centre at www.tfgm.com/cycling [5]

CTC

CTC, the national cycling charity, inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling.

We work to protect and promote cycling to create a healthier, cleaner world, now and for the future. We want the UK to be a place where it’s easy and safe for people of all ages to cycle, whatever their ability, background or income. We believe that cycling is more than just transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone.

We encourage all types of cycling, on the road or off it. We support you if you already ride, or would like to ride, to work or school, for health, touring, sport and leisure – or just because it’s fun.We’ve been working for cycling for over a century. Nationally and locally, we use our knowledge to influence decision makers and help people discover how cycling can change lives.

• We provide expert, practical help and advice.• We support individuals and communities.• We protect cyclists’ interests.• We campaign to make cycling mainstream and to remove the things that stop people cycling.• We help people develop the confidence and skills to cycle.• We promote the benefits of cycling to individuals, to society and to the economy.

CTC is an independent charity, and relies on 68,000 members, volunteers, grant funders and partners for support. Without them, we would not be able to do our vital work in communities inspiring hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to cycle.

CTC is registered as a charity in Scotland no SC042541 and in England and Wales no 1147607.